Working as a woman in a male-dominated industry is a minefield of its own.
- We're invisible.
- We're infantilized or sexualized.
- We're talked down to, mansplained, and underestimated.
Sometimes, it gets even worse: we're met with outright hostility.
Especially when a woman demonstrates she's got bigger "balls" than the man sitting across from her. Let's not pretend it doesn't happen.
But enough victimization, this is also one of my greatest assets in my career.
Why?
Because being underestimated is POWER.
Let’s start with the obvious: yes, men and women are different. By nature. The qualities that women bring to the table make us INCREDIBLY valuable.
Some men know this. Others don’t. But either way, it works to our advantage.
When we’re underestimated, it gives us an edge.
When we’re dismissed as “too emotional,” we use our empathy, intuition, and sensitivity as weapons.
When we’ve spent our entire lives navigating unsafe environments (just because we’re women), we develop strategic resilience.
The result?
→ We adapt.
→ We maneuver.
→ And some of us become exceptionally skilled at MANIPULATION.
My old mentor knew this well. He often placed me on front on sensitive missions.
Why?
Because when a woman walks into the room as THE boss, it deeply destabilizes the enemy.
That makes her a weapon. A strategy. A disruptor. And trust me: it works!
In the world of intelligence, many leaders are men.
I respect them for their decision-making, boldness, risk-taking, and rational thinking under pressure.
But let's face an uncomfortable truth...
If you want security, women are your best strategists.
Why do you think society has trusted us to raise the children and cook? (Joking, but hey, there's a point here.)
- We're wired to think differently.
- We're both intuitive and analytical.
- We spot risks before they occur.
- We're resilient, adaptable, and emotionally intelligent.
- We find solutions that are subtle and often imperceptible.
And our ability to be underestimated?
Well, that's the deadliest tool in our arsenal.
So, to all the women out there who’ve been ignored, doubted, or dismissed:
Know this: you’re the Queen of Hearts in the deck no one saw coming. Our edge in intelligence is unique.